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According to the Insurance Information Institute, the cost of homeowners insurance along the East and Gulf coasts has increased by as much as 100% since 2004.  The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) recently reported that regulators and other critics contend that this increase in premiums is due in part to insurers’ use of a “computerized catastrophe model” that assumes climate change resulting in more frequent and more severe hurricanes. 

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Read More Insurers Questioned On Use Of Rate Model Assuming Increase in Weather Related Catastrophes

On June 26, 2008, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published proposed Rules 151A and 12h-7 (“Proposed Rules”).  The Proposed Rules, if adopted, would clarify the status of indexed annuities (i.e. annuities for which payments to the purchaser are dependent on performance of a securities index) under the federal securities laws, and would provide insurance companies an exemption from reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) with respect to such annuities and certain other securities issued by insurance companies that are registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) and regulated as insurance under state law. 

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Read More SEC Proposes a New Rule to Regulate Indexed Annuities

Twenty one years after the New York Insurance Exchange Commission (the “Exchange”) closed its doors for trading, New York State officials have begun to consider reviving this unique market.  The Exchange was created in 1979 with the enactment of Regulations 89, 89-A and 89-B. …
Read More New York State Considering Resurrection of the Insurance Exchange

In October, www.insurereinsure.com reported on a regulation being proposed by New York Superintendent of Insurance Eric Dinallo that would eliminate the existing collateral requirements imposed on foreign and alien reinsurers operating in New York (click here to view prior post). 

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Read More Update on New York’s Proposed Change in Collateral Requirements on Foreign and Alien Reinsurers

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently dismissed a securities class action against Dynex Capital Inc. (“Dynex”) and its subsidiary, Merit Securities Corp. (“Merit”), because the plaintiff had failed to allege the requisite scienter. …
Read More Second Circuit: Dismissal of Claims Against Individual Defendants for Failure to Plead Scienter Does Not Preclude Claims Against Corporate Defendants

A California state court of appeals recently held that an insurer properly denied coverage after its insured failed to timely report a “claim” after receiving a demand letter. 

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Read More California State Court of Appeal Holds That Demand Letter Was A “Claim” That The Insured Was Required To Report Under Its Insurance Policy

The New York Court of Appeals denied a motion for rehearing in the Bi-Economy Market, Inc. v. Harleysville Insurance Company of New York case, thereby leaving intact its February 2008 decision allowing insureds  to recover “consequential damages” for improper denial of coverage.  The Court’s denial was made without comment. 

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Read More New York Court of Appeals Denies Motion for Rehearing Regarding Award of Consequential Damages for Bad Faith Breach of Insurance Contract

On June 26, 2008, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) reintroduced a measure intended to ensure that children have access to healthcare.  The measure was inserted into the Fiscal Year 2009 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education Appropriations bill (the “Bill”). …
Read More Lautenberg Reintroduces Measure to Keep New Jersey Children Covered by Health Insurance

The Florida Supreme Court has provided an answer to a question important to insurers that have issued policies under Florida’s surplus lines laws.  In Essex Ins. Co. v. Zota, Case No. SC06-2031 (June 26, 2008), the Court considered numerous questions certified from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. …
Read More Florida Supreme Court – Surplus Lines Policies Are Subject to Chapter 627, Florida Statutes